Women ice hockey players in USA are disputing the way their
wage demands are being characterised by USA Hockey, the national governing body
for the sport, in a 14-month dispute ahead of the country’s hosting of the
world championships, which they are threatening to boycott unless significant
progress is made towards a new contract.

USA Hockey estimated that players received $237,000 for
winning gold medals at the Olympic Games and $149,000 per player in non-Olympic
years, but the players said that the estimates failed to distinguish between money
paid by USA Hockey and by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson told AP: “We don't know where
some of those numbers came from. We're very aware and clear of what we've asked
for... They throw out these pretty big numbers, which we read those and we go, ‘Really,
we asked for that?’”

The players say they are paid $1,000 a month for the six months
leading up to the games and nothing for the other three and a half years. Star
forward Hilary Knight said: “We've been in negotiations with them for 14
months, and our stance doesn't change. It's 2017 and the treatment that we’ve
had has gone on too long and finally we’re a group that's empowered enough to make
a stance and fight for what’s right, and that’s equitable support across the
board.”

The world championships begin on 31 March in Plymouth,
Michigan. USA are defending champion, having won six of the past eight gold
medals at the championships. However, Canada have won the gold medals at the
last four winter Olympic Games. Knight said: “It's frustrating because we need
the support. There's a reason why we haven’t won an [Olympic] gold medal in 20
years. They need to step up. Who does USA Hockey aspire to be?”